John Oliver

Oliver in 2010, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: John William Oliver

Place of Birth: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 23 April, 1977

Ethnicity: English, Irish

John Oliver is an English and American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He has hosted the show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver since 2014.

John is the son of Carole (McNulty), a music teacher, and James B. Oliver, a school headmaster and social worker. His uncle, father’s brother, was composer Stephen Oliver (Stephen Michael Harding Oliver); biographical material, and a picture, of Stephen Oliver, can be found here. His parents are originally from Liverpool.

John is married to army veteran Kate Norley, with whom he has two children. He became a U.S. citizen in 2019.

John’s paternal grandfather was Osborne George Oliver (the son of George Harding Oliver and Frances Mary Delano Osborne). John’s grandfather Osborne was born in West Derby, Lancashire. Frances was the daughter of Frederick Delano Osborne and Fanny Sainsbury.

John’s paternal grandmother was Charlotte Hester Girdlestone (the daughter of The Rev. Frederick Stanley Pears Lynn Girdlestone and Beatrice Victoria Margaret Boyd Carpenter). Charlotte was born in Ripon, Yorkshire. Frederick was the son of The Rev. Charles Frederick Girdlestone and Alice Ann Lynn. Beatrice was the daughter of The Rev. William Boyd Carpenter and Annie Maude Gardner.

John’s paternal great-great-grandfather, The Rev. William Boyd Carpenter (1841-1918), was the Bishop of Ripon, and a court chaplain to Queen Victoria. He was from a prominent family that produced many Church of England clergy.

John’s maternal grandfather’s surname was McNulty.

John’s maternal grandmother’s surname was Kelly.

Source: Genealogy of John Oliver (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com